Fans often only see the good side of fame. They see the happy smiles and great success of famous people. But it’s difficult for them to understand everything that comes before then. They can’t see the hard work or the hours of practice.
Li Yundi, the Chinese piano prodigy(天才), recently released his first concert recording. He talked with Teens about his art and his job.
“Of course, the job is hard work,” Li, 25, said. “You need to work hard to be a professional. But you also have to play hundreds of concerts, meet fans, and listen to critics(评论) of your music.”
In 2000, when Li was 18, he won the top prize at the International Chopin(肖邦) Competition in Warsaw, Poland. This was the first time the top prize had been given in 15 years. Li was also the youngest, and the first Chinese to win the prize. Since then, Li became famous and his list of honors goes on and on.
Born in Chongqing, Li began to play piano when he was seven. His parents spent all their money and bought a piano for him--- a luxury in 1980s China.
He worked hard. Every day, Li played for eight hours or more at a piano school. He often played even after the school had closed.
Today, Li still can’ t play a beautiful tune without careful preparation.
“ You need to be ready on stage.” Li said. “People are waiting for you. Nobody knows whether you have slept enough, or whether you have another problem in your life. But you need to play great music for your audience. That’s what they want to hear.”
【小题1】What is Li Yundi?  ______.
A. A music-critic     B. A music fan      C. A pianist        
【小题2】What does the underlined word “luxury” mean in Chinese?  ______.
A. 奢侈品          B. 流行品         C.豪华          
【小题3】How long did it take Li to get the prize of Chopin Competition and became famous? ______.
A. 7 years     B. 11 years      C. 15 years      
【小题4】What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?  ______.
A. You need to sleep well the night before the performance
B. You should prepare carefully before the performance.
C. You need to know your audience.
【小题5】What does the passage mainly tell us?  ______.
A. You need to be a prodigy to be successful.
B. You need to be happy to be successful.
C. You need to work hard to be successful.

A few years ago, Dave Stirling had the idea of selling CDs over the Internet. The business he started from his home in Ohio, the USA, now sells 500,000 CDs a year and has made him into a millionaire(百万富翁)at the age of 24.
“I could see that this was the future of shopping,” says Stirling. “Why should you pay $15 for a CD and spend the time and the money getting into the store and parking your car? You can have the same CD for half of the price by clicking(敲击)on your computer. And we can find any CD you want and bring it to your door in 24 hours!”
According to Stirling, this is the only beginning, “I believe that one day we’ll do our shopping over the net: it’s easier, quicker and cheaper. Shops and supermarkets will be the past.”
【小题1】Dave Stirling started his business from _____
A. his home   B. His company   C. the office 
【小题2】How has Stirling become so rich ?
A. By making ice cream.
B. By making advertisements.
C. By selling CDs over the Internet.
【小题3】If you pay $15 for a CD in the store, how much should you pay for it over the net?
A. $15      B. $12        C. $7.5 
【小题4】By shopping over the net, you won’t _______________.
A. spend the time and the money
B. click on your computer
C. get into the store by yourself
【小题5】What can we learn from the passage?
A. More than half of the Americans prefer to shop over the net.
B. Shops and supermarkets will be the past in the future.
C. It’s easier, quicker and more expensive to do our shopping over the net.

先阅读短文，然后根据短文内容在短文空白处填入一个适当的词，使短文完整、通顺，所填单词的首字母已给出。将填入空白处的单词写在答题卡上的相应题号后.

I was in a strange city and I didn?t know the city at all.And what is more，I could not speak a word of the 1.l______.After having spent my first day in the town center，I decided to lose my way on my second day，since I was sure that this was the better way of 2.g____to know the strange city.I got on the first bus in the morning，rode on it for several stops，then got off it and walked on.The first two hours 3.p_____ happily enough.Then I decided to turn back to my 4.h______for lunch.After walking about for some time，I decided I had better ask the way.The5.t_______ was that the only word I knew of the language was the name of the hotel in which I 6.l________ and even that I pronounced badly.

I stopped to ask a friendly-looking7.n______ seller.He smiled and handed me a paper.I shook my head and repeated the name of the hotel and he put the paper into my hands，I had to give him some 8.m_______and went on my way.Then I met a policeman.I asked him at once.The policeman listened to me carefully.Smiled and took me 9.b_______the arm.There was a strange look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left10.a_____.I thanked him politely and began walking on.

About an hour passed and I found that the houses were getting fewer and fewer and green fields could be 11.s_____ on either side of me.I had come all the way into the country.The thing left for me to do was to find the nearest bus station.

My dad was driving to the city center to shop and I was going along for the ride. At least that was what I had told him—   1  I had an important question to ask—that had been on my mind for a couple of weeks and this was the first time I had been able to   2  with him alone.
“Dad…”I started. And   3 .
“Yes?” he said.
“The kids say there is no Father Christmas. They say I’m   4  to believe in Father Christmas anymore…it’s only for little kids. But I believe what you told me. Father Christmas is __5 . He is, isn’t he, Dad?”
“The real life and spirit of this magical elf (精灵) lives forever in your heart, my heart, Mom’s heart and in the hearts and minds of   6  people who believe in the joy that giving to others brings. The real   7  of Father Christmas becomes what you can give rather what you get. Once you understand this and it becomes   8  of you, Father Christmas becomes even more exciting and more magical because you come to   9  the magic comes from you when Father Christmas lives in your heart. Do you understand what I am   10  to tell you?”
My heart was filled with pride and I’m sure my eyes were shining with   11 .” Of course, Dad. I want him to be in my heart, just like he’s in yours. I love you, Daddy. You’re the best Father Christmas who has   12  been in the whole world.”
When it comes time in my life to   13  the reality of Father Christmas to my children, I hope that I will be as eloquent (有口才) and   14  as my dad was the day I learned that the spirit of Father Christmas doesn’t wear a red   15 . And I hope they will accept me as I did that day. I’m sure they will.